For
almost two months, Mr. Bush crisscrossed the country telling the American
people all about how broke the social security system is, "we must save
it for future generations" and how committed he is to reform. Is there
an echo in here?

Perhaps
another one of my famous trips down memory lane is in order because "how
quickly people forget." Social Security "reform" has been going on for
decades. It's a joke and so is Congress.

"Our
basic objective-toward which all others lead-is to improve the welfare
of the American people. In addition to economic prosperity, this means
that we need social security in the fullest sense of the term; the people
must be protected from the fear of want during old age, sickness, and
unemployment." Harry Truman, State of the Union Address, 1946

"In
this Nation the ideals of freedom and equality can be given specific meaning
in terms of health, education, social security, and housing. Over the
past 12 years we have erected a sound framework of social security legislation.
Many millions of our citizens are now protected against the loss of income
which can come with unemployment, old age, or the death of wage earners.
Yet our system has gaps and inconsistencies; it is only half finished.
We should now extend unemployment compensation, old age benefits, and
survivors' benefits to millions who are not now protected. We should also
raise the level of benefits. The greatest gap in our social security structure
is the lack of adequate provision for the Nation's health. We are rightly
proud of the high standards of medical care we know how to provide in
the United States. The fact is, however, that most of our people cannot
afford to pay for the care they need." Harry Truman, State of the Union
Address, 1948

"I shall
shortly send you specific recommendations for establishing such an appropriate
commission, together with a reorganization plan defining new administrative
status for all Federal activities in health, education, and social security."
Dwight Eisenhower, State of the Union Address, 1953

"Our
basic social security program, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance system,
to which individuals contribute during their productive years and receive
benefits based on previous earnings, is designed to shield them from destitution.
Last year I recommended extension of the social insurance system to include
more than 10,000,000 additional persons. I ask that this extension soon
be accomplished. This and other major improvements in the insurance system
will bring substantial benefit increases and broaden the membership of
the insurance system, thus diminishing the need for Federal grants-in-aid
for such purposes. A new formula will therefore be proposed, permitting
progressive reduction in such grants as the need for them declines." Eisenhower,
State of the Union Address, 1954

Please
notice these words above: extension of the social insurance system to
include more than 10,000,000 additional persons. If SS was mandatory,
there would be no need to extend SS to anyone. However, since it is a
voluntary program, old Ike was talking about making this taxing scheme
available to more people because the realized even back then the numbers
would not add up and the program would eventually bankrupt itself. That's
the reason for "extending" this taxing scheme to more people.

"Social
security has been extended to ten million more Americans and unemployment
insurance to four million more." Eisenhower, State of the Union Address,
1956

"But
in matters of health, no piece of unfinished business is more important
or more urgent than the enactment under the social security system of
health insurance for the aged....Social security has long helped to meet
the hardships of retirement, death, and disability. I now urge that its
coverage be extended without further delay to provide health insurance
for the elderly." JFK, State of the Union Address, 1962

"We
must provide hospital insurance for our older citizens financed by every
worker and his employer under Social Security, contributing no more than
$1 a month during the employee's working career to protect him in his
old age in a dignified manner without cost to the Treasury, against the
devastating hardship of prolonged or repeated illness." LBJ, State of
the Union Address, 1964

"Let
a just nation throw open to them the city of promise: --to the elderly,
by providing hospital care under social security and by raising benefit
payments to those struggling to maintain the dignity of their later years;
LBJ, State of the Union Address, 1965

"We
should raise social security payments by an overall average of 20 percent.
That will add $4 billion 100 million to social security payments in the
first year. I will recommend that each of the 23 million Americans now
receiving payments get an increase of at least 15 percent. I will ask
that you raise the minimum payments by 59 percent--from $44 to $70 a month,
and to guarantee a minimum benefit of $100 a month for those with a total
of 25 years of coverage. We must raise the limits that retired workers
can earn without losing social security income." LBJ, State of the Union
Address, 1967

"Now
let me speak about social security. Our Federal social security system
for people who have worked and contributed to it for all their lives is
a vital part of our economic system. Its value is no longer debatable.
In my budget for fiscal year 1977, I am recommending that the full cost-of-living
increases in the social security benefits be paid during the coming year.
But I am concerned about the integrity of our Social Security Trust Fund
that enables people--those retired and those still working who will retire--to
count on this source of retirement income. Younger workers watch their
deductions rise and wonder if they will be adequately protected in the
future. We must meet this challenge head on. Simple arithmetic warns all
of us that the Social Security Trust Fund is headed for trouble. Unless
we act soon to make sure the fund takes in as much as it pays out, there
will be no security for old or for young. I must, therefore, recommend
a three-tenths of 1 percent increase in both employer and employee social
security taxes effective January 1, 1977. This will cost each covered
employee less than 1 extra dollar a week and will ensure the integrity
of the trust fund." Ford, State of the Union Address, 1976

Devvy Kidd authored the booklets, Why A Bankrupt
America and Blind Loyalty, which sold close to 2,000,000 copies. Devvy
appears on radio shows all over the country, ran for Congress and is a
highly sought after public speaker. Get a free copy of Why A Bankrupt
America from El Dorado Gold.
Devvy is a contributing writer for www.NewsWithViews.com.